"Mulla Mohammad Omar,
Supreme Commander of Taliban has agreed to surrender from Kandahar in
the favor of Mulla Naqibullah…the decision was taken for the sake of
the security of the innocent civilians…we don’t accept the agreement
(Bonn) as it is in the interest of Americans and Russians."

"Mullah
Omar who was somewhere in Kandahar, was fine and controlling the Taliban
forces…Taliban were still in control of Kandahar and Helmand and their
fighters were determined to fight the enemy till last breath…now we
have no contact with him (bin Laden)… He is no more in areas currently
under our control…yes now they (US marine troops) are present in Takhatpul
area and their helicopters were also flying in the area…We are in contact
with the Pakistan authorities, ICRC and the United Nations to seek a
safe passage for those Taliban fighters who dropped their weapons elsewhere
in Afghanistan."

"The struggle
for a broad-based government has been going on for the last 20 years,
but nothing came of it. We will not accept a government of wrong-doers.
We prefer death than to be part of an evil government… The plan is going
ahead and God willing it is being implemented, but it is a huge task
beyond the will and comprehension of human beings. If God's help is
with us this will happen within a short period of time. Keep in mind
this prediction…we are all moderates, taking the middle path."

Following are verbatim
extracts of the Pushtu BBC World Service Radio interview with Mullah
Mohammed Omar, Taliban Supreme Leader on November 15:

Q: What do you think of the current
situation in Afghanistan?

A: You (the BBC) and American puppet
radios have created concern. But the current situation in Afghanistan
is related to a bigger cause - that is the destruction of America ...

Q: What do you mean by the destruction
of America? Do you have a concrete plan to implement this?

A: The plan is going ahead and, God
willing, it is being implemented. But it is a huge task, which is beyond
the will and comprehension of human beings. If God's help is with us,
this will happen within a short period of time. Keep in mind this prediction.

Q: Osama bin Laden has reportedly threatened
that he would use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against America.
Is your threat related to his?

A: This is not a matter of weapons.
We are hopeful for God's help. The real matter is the extinction of
America. And, God willing, it (America) will fall to the ground.

Q: During the past few days, you have
lost control of several provinces. Are you hopeful to regain the lost
territory?

A: We are hopeful that you will see
the same kind of change that you saw (losing and regaining territory).

Q: What was the reason for the fast
retreat? Why have your troops fled the cities? Is it because you suffered
heavily from the US bombings or have your soldiers betrayed you?

A: I told you that it is related to
the larger task ...

Q: Can you tell us which provinces are
under your control at the moment?

A: We have four-five provinces. But
it is not important how many provinces we have under our control. Once
we did not have a single province, and then the time came when we had
all the provinces, which we have lost in a week. So the numbers of the
provinces are not important.

Source: www.dawn.com/2001/11/16/top8.htm

"I order you to obey your commanders completely.
Do not move here and there ... Regroup yourselves. Put up resistance
and fight…Do not listen to the propaganda by opposition media. I am
in Kandahar and have not gone anywhere. This is a fight for Islam…Those
who leave their positions are like chickens with their heads cut off
which will eventually die and fall in a ditch."

"If we are banned, US should also
be banned. We only presented our story of victimization to the world.
We were getting the sympathies of the world and chances of peace were
increasing… We were not committing any aggression in these briefings but
were just telling our side of the story…It is wrong to refer to Taliban
as a group. We are part and parcel of Afghan society… Taliban are the
Afghan nation and it is very difficult to defeat a whole nation… We are
ready to talk on all issues with every one but if they want to force their
arrogance on us and the Islamic world, then we are not ready. How could
we violate Islamic principles and hand over Osama without any proof. We
were not given any proof and war was thrust on us

"We are ready for
a long war and we hope to defeat the United States, which the rest of
the world calls a superpower…The US should revise its wrong, terrorist
policies, otherwise this war, which may last for decades, will burn
many Americans and Afghans."

"Their
(Osama bin Laden) right of freedom and expression has been restored…When
the Americans are out to destroy each and every thing in Afghanistan
including schools, mosques and residential areas, how he could be debarred
from freedom of expression…The world community has donated generously
to help Afghans in the hours of their trial but we are not receiving
this aid in toto as financial condition of Afghans are in shambles…We
hold Arab people in high esteem as they are at our back in the war against
world Satan. They consider war against Afghans as war against Islam
but they under the clutches of their rulers who have preferred to get
material interests than those blessings of Allah almighty."

"We have ample arms
and ammunition to engage the enemy forces till long. The Americans lacked
the required courage and valiance to face the brave Afghans who defeated
the Russians in the same tough and treacherous terrenes…the real battle
field would be staged when the United States grounds its land forces
in Afghanistan. The Afghans are looking forward to that crucial moment
and they are ready to deliver as ever…It's mere propaganda to malign
and demoralize the Taliban but it would never work and the Taliban were
well trenched with their morale very high to give a befitting reply
to the aggressors…Lots of Ex Jehadi and Mujahideen Commanders have assured
us to provide full support in men and material because Jehand has now
been become inevitable in the given circumstances…the Americans were
targeting the civilian population, houses, shops, Hospitals, Communication
, power and irrigation systems and dams. The power and telephonic systems
of Kandahar have been badly damaged due to US carpet bombing and the
local population was facing untold hardships and there is no ample drinking
water. People are forced to fetch hand pump water from remote areas."

"There is no split in the Taliban.
This is the claim of our opponents. The decisions of our government
are in the hands of our people… Afghanistan is passing through a crucial
phase. We are compelled to defend ourselves because nobody will give
us protection."

"Afghanistan cannot produce a single
cup of glass what to talk of nuclear weapons… the number of Mujahideen
needed for front lines exceeds the need. We are receiving volunteers
from Afghan people every day… We are asking volunteers to stay back
as we do not need them now. The ground battle has not yet started; and
it would not be wise to let them come in as it would create congestion
in cities and camps making them more vulnerable to the enemy air strikes…
Abdul Haq has sacrificed his life for America's evil objectives… In
the first phase they could not earn any significant gain as the Pentagon
wished to achieve, except the genocide of Afghan civilians in the main
cities of Kabul, Kandhar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Heart… We believed from
the beginning America is not fighting so-called terrorism but has wicked
designs in our country… These (designs) are being revealed with the
passage of each day. However, we are sure these designs will face fiasco
in this land of martyrs and heroes as other designs have faced failure…
we have always warned the Americans that Afghans are empty handed but
full of determination and faith to defend their homeland and religion…
for a highly trained army like Americans with such sophisticated systems
and mechanisms, it is a shame to make so many mistakes and go astray
on civilian sites everyday."

"Our findings prove that this
is true. These bombardments have radioactive rays and chemical materials
that also cause cancer."

-- Mullah Abbas, Public Health Minister, Taliban regime, October
29

"They want to put in place their
secular set-up to keep a grip over our country in order to maintain
military presence in the region to watch its interests of oil and natural
resources of the Central Asian States protected."

"We have information about the evidence of
chemicals found on people injured by bombings… We have downed two US
helicopters which proves that our air defence system was still intact
and the claim that it was crippled by US air raids was false… The Taliban
front in the north of Kabul was heavily bombed last night and today
he said but these attacks did not succeed in damaging our positions."

"The U.S must accept its failure.
It should not prolong the ongoing operation because nothing would happen
according to their will and they must timely read the writing on the
wall… Time has come for the United States to learn a lesson before launching
further air and ground attacks… We have already faced such problems
in the past and have become used to such war like scenario. We have
a strong belief in Allah Almighty that we would face the aggression
of Kufr with dignity and honor… Entire Afghanistan and the Afghans are
innocent and are the targets of indiscriminate bombing by the US. The
American casualties after the recently launched ground operation have
been figured out by the Taliban government and are more than being reported
and the American admittance of only two casualties is childish."

"We have made all out preparations
to get engaged Americans for a long time. We do not trust in the might
of arms rather we believe in sacrificing our lives for the cause of
Islam and honor of motherland. We had got huge arms from the United
States during war with the Soviet troops and we still are in possession
of these arms. We have concealed these arms in some safe places in the
mountains. We warn the US to land its troops without any delay and then
see as to how much dead bodies it would airlift daily… We introduced
Islamic system in Afghanistan and the Americans saw that this system
is gaining roots not only in Afghanistan but the system is being hailed
in other parts of the country, the Americans frightened from the renaissance
of Islam and started hatching conspiracies how to disfigure this system
and in this way they started branding Taliban as terrorists."

"At least 18 civilians, majority of them, children,
have been killed in Sunday's bombing in Kabul alone. Another 23 have
been reported injured as a result of the air strikes at Khairkhana and
other parts of the capital".

"More than 1000 civilians and unarmed Afghans
have been martyred in the continued inhuman bombing of different cities,
towns and villages across the country so far. The US planes have been
pounding civilian population with 5000 pounds of intensity of ‘Bunker
Buster’ bombs… These bombs had not been used in Iraq even. Americans
use the weapons and bombs against the Afghans, which are meant for use
in the World War III… They have killed as small as "terrorists" who
are in the process of learning dialects… The Americans are desperate
and bomb the populated areas and cities with an aim to force the people
to migrate to other countries and give the impression to the world that
people are not happy with Taliban... We really appreciate those, who
follow their conscience and also condemn what has happened in New York
and Washington because our religion does not permit killing of innocent
people…"

-- Sohial Shaheen, Deputy Ambassador of the Taliban
regime of Afghanistan in Pakistan, October 21, 2001

"Our government has approved the execution
of five Afghans including two commanders in Mazar-i-Sharif for staging
rebellion against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in support of the
US forces."

The following is a transcription of the recorded interview with
Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani, Commander-in-chief, Southern Military Command,
Taliban regime of Afghanistan

Q: In case US forces take over main cities such as
Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad, will Taliban surrender?
If not, will they attack these cities to reclaim them?

Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani: First of all, it is next
to impossible for the Americans to do so. Remember that the Soviet also
controlled several of Afghan cities once. What happened to them? We
[the Taliban] never had a single city but look at us now.

Even if the Americans or others manage to [capture
Afghan cities] and a new government is installed there, we will not
accept it. We will retreat to the mountains and begin a long guerrilla
war to reclaim our pure land from infidels and free our country again
like we did against the Soviets.

Q: How do you plan to deal with a ground invasion by
American troops?

A: We are eagerly awaiting the American troops to land
on our soil, where we will deal with them in our own way. I tell you
the Soviets were a brave enemy and their soldiers could withstand tough
conditions. The Americans are creatures of comfort. They will not be
able to sustain the harsh conditions that await them.

Let me also tell you that the Soviets fulfilled their
commitments with even their enemies and Muslims, whereas the Americans
are untrustworthy and betray even their friends what to speak of enemies.
Afghanistan will prove to be the graveyard of the Americans.

Q: What is the Taliban's view of a broad-based national
government?

A: The Afghans are with the Taliban simply because
it is an Islamic government. The so-called broad-based national government
will by its very nature be secular, which will never be acceptable to
the Afghans.

No one from the Taliban will be a part of such an unacceptable
government, which will be filled with American, Russian and Indian stooges.

Q: What do you make of Pakistan's support for a broad-based
national government for Afghanistan?

A: Let me remind you that on Pakistan's Eastern border
is India - Pakistan's perennial enemy. With the Taliban government in
Afghanistan, Pakistan has an unbeatable 2,300 km strategic depth, which
even President Pervez Musharraf has proudly proclaimed. Does Pakistan
really want a new government, which will include pro-India people in
it, thereby wiping out this strategic depth?

I tell you, the security and stability of Pakistan
and Afghanistan are intertwined. Together, we are strong but separately
we are weak.

Q: What is the current status of Afghan defences against
the American military strikes?

A: We have so far held on to our defences. There is
no retreat from anywhere. The military strikes have miserably failed
to inflict any serious or crippling damage to our defences.

Q: How many Afghans have been killed so far in the
air raids?

A: Around 450 Afghans have so far been martyred in
the cowardly American strikes.

Q: How many prominent members of the Taliban government
been killed?

A: Not a single important leader or military commander
of the Taliban has been killed in the past 12 days of constant US bombardment.
Mullah Omar, Osama bin Laden and all other commanders are safe and sound
and carrying out their duties. However, about 25 Taliban soldiers have
been martyred.

Q: Have all the planes and helicopters in Taliban possession
been destroyed as reported?

A: This is all propaganda. Only one military helicopter
and two Ariana Airlines passenger planes have sustained damages. The
rest of the planes are safe.

Q: Are Osama bin Laden and his group of Arabs helping
the Taliban in defending Afghanistan?

A: We don't think in terms of nationalities like Arab,
Indian or Pakistani. All with us all Afghans. Whoever migrates to Afghanistan
in the name of Islam, we consider them all Afghans be they from Saudi
Arabia, Britain, Chechnya, Pakistan, India or any other country of the
world. And yes, we are all fighting this war together.

Q: What plans do Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda have
to deal with potential attack on their suspected positions?

A: I told you. We are all fighting together.

Q: Why did Osama bin Laden not accept the Ulema's recommendation
that he leave Afghanistan?

Neither did we call him nor will we send him away.
We have neither kept him by force in Afghanistan nor will we force him
out.

Q: How true are the reports of defections in Taliban
ranks?

A: There is absolutely no truth in such claims. The
propagandists had claimed that Qazi Abdul Hye of Sar-e-Pul region in
the north had defected along with his forces. This claim was made when
he was cut off some days ago in a siege by the Northern Alliance.

However, after he broke through the siege, he and everyone
of his 4,000 soldiers was back. He is a great scholar of Islam as well
as a great military commander. And he is definitely with us. No defections
at all.

Q: Is Mullah Omar ready to quit as the Taliban leader
and hand over power to an acceptable person who can negotiate a ceasefire
in order to save the Afghans or to surrender Osama bin Laden?

A: We pledged allegiance at his hands and made him
the Amir-ul-Momineen (leader of the faithful). As long as he keeps serving
Islam and Shariat, we will never leave him and he will remain our leader.
Why should he step down? Who are others to demand that Mullah Omar should
step down?

We don't like George Bush. Why doesn't he step down
and someone sensible take his place in America?

Q: When was the last time that you met Osama bin Laden?

A: Of course, I can't answer that for security reasons.
However, let me state clearly that Osama bin Laden is not only safe
and sound, he is also in good spirits.

Q: How many countries support the Taliban?

A: There are several countries that support us including
very important ones. But for obvious reasons I am not going to name
them. We can understand that America is dangerous and it will harm any
country that openly comes to our support. So the countries that support
us have the right not to do so openly, which they are doing.

Q: Gulbadin Hikmetyar has announced to fight along
side the Taliban. Will you accept him in your ranks or try him for various
crimes as the Taliban earlier pledged?

A: We have a tradition whereby when an external, common
enemy threatens the Afghans, we set aside our internal differences and
unite against the threat. Besides, Mullah Omar is the final authority
to decide whether we will accept Hikmetyar's help or not.

Q: How did you come to Pakistan? Did you use a visa?

A: I am also the [Taliban] minister for border regions.
Our tribes are settled on both sides of the Durand Line since ages.
Our houses are divided on both sides of the border. Both sides are my
home. Pakistan is my home. And besides, my migration hasn't ended.

Source: The News, October 20, 2001

"The forces of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban)
went to the area and the US troops were forced to leave a short while
after they had landed…We forced them to leave. Now we know how to deal
with the fresh tactics of the Americans."

"The Taliban are united and
they have full confidence in the leadership of Mulla Omar…War is no
solution to any issue and talks are the best way to solve any complicated
issue…I have come with special proposals from Kandahar but it is a secret…Yes,
I am carrying a peace plan to Islamabad…It is not a retreat plan…We
are very positive and expect a positive response…I did not see any American
troops in Kandahar. In case USA sends its troops in Afghanistan they
will find Taliban ready to give them a tough fight. In fact, we are
waiting for them."

"There was no proposal for any negotiations
on turning over Osama bin Laden to Americans, nor did I gone there (Afghanistan)
with any message from Islamabad on this issue. On the issue of Osama
we have no change. Osama is an Islamic issue and a faith issue and we
are not going to change our faith for anyone… It will be a lengthy war
and we have decided to keep our fighting might intact so that to hit
at the right time…It is a war of faith and one can hope that all Afghans
will join hands against foreign aggression."

"If the Taliban is given evidence
that Osama bin Laden is involved…the bombing campaign stopped… We would
be ready to hand him over to a third country, but would never come under
pressure from the United States…If America were to step back from the
current policy, then we could negotiate. Then we could discuss which
third country."

"It's true that we have not
started our real battle against the United States because of their technological
superiority. But -- God willing -- we will not greet them with roses.
They will be taught a much more bitter lesson than that taught to the
Russians… We have said if Washington has the evidence proving his (bin
Laden's) involvement and is confident of that, why don't they give us
this evidence and we are ready to try him in Afghanistan or by a committee
of Islamic scholars from three countries. By ignoring this proposal,
the United States is humiliating Islamic Sharia law, and accordingly
the current war is not targeting Bin Laden but the destruction of the
Islamic emirate of Afghanistan…I reiterate our readiness for the trial
to take place in the presence of observers from the Organisation of
the Islamic Conference (OIC) and western countries… Afghan cities and
villages have suffered huge losses. A large number of women and children
have been killed and mosques, hospitals and residential areas have also
been hit… The (Western-backed) Northern Alliance is a group of mercenaries,
who have decided a long time ago to make their country hostage to foreigners…
We categorically refuse that Washington and Western countries impose
on our people persons who had left us decades ago to fight our enemies…The
fate of any collaborator with these (western) powers will be death."

"America is technologically more advanced.
We are not equal to the US. The real war starts when ground troops enter
Afghanistan…They should produce all the evidence that they have. They
should send evidence instead of planes ... we would discuss his being
put on trial…America is making a great mistake by focussing only on
Osama. America has many enemies."

"If proof is provided, a third country could
be chosen, which is neither under the influence of the United States,
nor the Taliban…If America were to step back from the current policy,
then we could negotiate."

"Fifteen civilians were killed in
American bombing on Kandahar on Thursday night…Don't worry for us…We
have learnt to live in most difficult conditions and will endure all
such difficulties in the future because we have faith in God…

-- Mullah Muhammad Zaeef, Ambassador of the Taliban
regime of Afghanistan in Pakistan, October 13, 2001

"The Americans have attacked
Afghanistan without any proof to cover up the failure of its intelligence
agencies. It is finding a pretext to finish an Islamic country… We do
not have any extradition treaty with America under which we can hand
over the suspected people… Our sin is that we have enforced Islamic
laws in the country. We have given shelter to an innocent and shelter-less
Muslim who is not even allowed to spend an hour in any other countrys…
Does your faith permit you to tolerate this barbarism of the United
States against Muslims? Does your faith allow you to sit silently and
support Americans? Everyone knows that the Soviets and British had been
defeated in Afghanistan and this will be the fate of the Americans."

"The world Muslims must
decide whether to support us or the United States in the on-going war…
The United States considers herself as powerful but Allah Almighty is
more powerful than Washington and we only trust Allah Almighty to help
the poor and oppressed Afghans…We are not terrorist and are not harboring
terrorists. This is the notion of the United States to call us terrorists."

"… The American claim that they
have destroyed the defence capability of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
is not true… A letter had been sent to the OIC ahead of its meeting
requesting it to play due role in getting the US bombings on Afghanistan
halted and finding out a negotiated settlement."

"… US interests are spread throughout
the world. So, every Muslim should carry out his real role to champion
his Islamic nation and religion. He said those who carried out devastating
attacks on New York and Washington with hijacked aircraft had "done
a good deed" and taken the battle to the heart of America. "Let the
United States know that the battle will continue to be waged on its
territory until it leaves our land, stops its support for the Jews,
and lifts the unjust embargo on the Iraqi people."…

-- Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Spokesman, Al-Qaeda, October
10, 2001

"… The American claim that they
have destroyed the defence capability of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
is not true… A letter had been sent to the OIC ahead of its meeting
requesting it to play due role in getting the US bombings on Afghanistan
halted and finding out a negotiated settlement."

"… We can't even think that a brotherly
Muslim [Turkey] could join US forces against its own brothers in faith…
"Both [Mulla Omar and Osama bin Laden] were safe and I am constantly
in contact with the former while we have no direct links with the latter…
I talked to Amirul Momineen Mulla Omar for 15 minutes on Monday…"

"… Once again the people of Afghanistan are confronting
a superpower. An Islamic system is under invasion. Afghans are punished
for what they believe in. During the last two decades, the Mujahid nation
of Afghanistan gave away two million of its best sons to establish an
Islamic system based on their aspirations. But America can't tolerate
this, trying to nip it in the bud. The word Terrorism is the effective
device used by America to achieve politically motivated goals. The same
device is being now used against Afghanistan… First they distortedly
portrayed the realities in Afghanistan and imposed sanctions on our
country, isolating the young Islamic government. But the Afghan people
did not cave in. Now America has resorted to militarism to change the
Islamic government in Afghanistan. This is not like prosecuting so-called
terrorists but clearly signifies America is punishing the Afghan people
for having chosen an Islamic system… ".

-- Statement by the Taliban regime of Afghanistan,
read out by Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef, Ambassador in Pakistan, October
9, 2001

"… The first round of the raining Tomahawk cruise missile
and bombing failed to put any serious dent to the Taliban's fighting
might, except for killing 20 innocent civilians in Kabul…Was it a targeted
attack on military installations as claimed by the US and its agent
Britain that hit no militia man but killed 20 unarmed civilians, including
women and children?… The allied air forces had failed to hit any of
our army men while we have downed their one aircraft and there were
reports of another three jets to have been hit by our anti-aircraft
guns…It will never be in peace by disturbing the peace of Afghan nation.
It will have to face serious consequences which are not even in its
imagination right now. The Afghans will fight the Americans and their
allies with courage and bravery, and will never compromise on their
religion and independence…"

-- Mullah Muhammad Zaeef, Ambassador of the Taliban
regime of Afghanistan, in Pakistan, October 8, 2001

"… These brutal attacks are horrendous
acts of terrorism… Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had chosen the path
of talks to solve the problems but the United States of America had
responded with an act of terrorism… We cannot hand over Osama to the
US. This is an attack on an independent country. We will fight until
our last breadth."

-- Mullah Muhammad Zaeef, Ambassador of the Taliban
regime of Afghanistan in Islamabad, October 7, 2001

"… Now, with US help, (former king) Zahir Shah
wants to come to Afghanistan as a puppet so that he can preach Christianity
in Afghanistan…The Afghan nation should take notice of the situation
and listen to our advice. If people refuse to listen, then we will issue
some order which will be very tough…Allah Almighty is with us. You will
see the Americans will flee because for Allah, America is not worth
an ant. Almost all including Pakistan have joined hands against us today
but Allah is with us..."

"… We Pashtoons have a tradition of hospitality
and as a rule, we can't oust bin Laden. However, if solid proofs are
provided by the US government then a proper trail could be instituted
against bin Laden in any Muslim country…"

Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, Ambassador of the Taliban
Regime of Afghanistan in Pakistan, October 3, 2001

"Some countries want another
aggression against Afghanistan but the war is not a solution, only negotiations
is the right and proper way to address the this issue…Afghans fought
a long war for over two decades which claimed more than 2 million precious
lives and injuring 30 million people, while displacing more than six
million others. We and our people want to be helped, we need food, shelter
and reconstruction of our country for good life and not more wars…We
are peace-loving people and never supported terrorism…Whenever, we asked
for evidence, the US reply was in negative and only insisted on surrendering
bin Laden to it…We have full confidence in the leadership of Mulla Omar."

"… He (Osama bin Laden) is in
[a] hide out and his place has been kept secret because of security…
President Bush should respect Islam and Islamic principles if he wants
to deal with the Muslims. I want to make categorically that Osama bin
Laden will not be handed over to anyone… This is totally baseless. No
American troop has so far has been seen in any part of Afghanistan…
Americans are flying in sky and we are on the earth. They should show
respect to Islam and then we will cooperate with them. They must produce
evidence and the same should be produced in the court… No religious
scholar can even think to ask for the expulsion of Osama bin Laden..."

-- Mullah Abdul Zaeef, Ambassador of the Taliban regime
of Afghanistan in Islamabad, October 1, 2001

"… It is totally wrong, we deny this
news [of arresting] that they [US / UK Special Forces] have come to
our areas … It is not true and has no basis. We contacted the authorities
in Kandahar and Nimroz provinces about it and they denied it… They could
be in the opposition areas. We don't reject that possibility...

[The Afghan clerics' recommendation
to Osama bin Laden to leave the country has been approved by Mullah
Omar]. "Now it is up to Osama to decide"… [We will not negotiate
a deal with the US] No, it is not the tradition of Muslims to compromise…
We have not lost Osama, but he is out of sight of the people… [The American
embassy in Kabul was attacked as] "The people are very emotional and
angry because the United States is sounding threats to attack Afghanistan.
The Taliban security forces tried their best to stop the mob from the
attack but failed to control the largely attended demonstration…"

"Islam is a true way of life and
our enemies and those against our religion believe that we are their
enemies… They are trying to finish us on various pretexts. One of their
pretexts is Osama bin Laden's presence in Afghanistan."

"… The possibility of a massive attack
by our Mujahideen cannot be ruled out if any neighbouring country offers
its ground or air bases to US forces… It's possible that we will invade
any country that provides access to the US. Our Mujahideen will force
their way into their territory... The responsibility for the grave consequences
and instability of the region would then rest with them...."

-- Statement by the Foreign Ministry, Taliban regime
of Afghanistan, September 15, 2001

It is not impossible that we would
attack such a country under compulsion, and the Mujahideen would have
to enter the territory of such country… We do not expect Pakistan to
allow an unjust action against Afghanistan... So far they [the US] have
not produced any concrete evidence [of bin Laden’s involvement in the
attacks]… It [the attack on the US] is terrorism and should be condemned…
Although the … [Taliban] has explained its clear and positive stand
based on facts, statements and indications by some American authorities
on the terrorist events in New York and Washington focus only on Osama
bin Laden…"

"If a country or group violates our
country, we will not forget our revenge… They can never find an individual.
They will fail… Their missiles cannot find an individual… The Soviet
Union destroyed this country, but they could never accomplish their
goals. The United States will also fail."

"I don't think the Americans are
going to strike. The people of Afghanistan will stand with the Taliban
as they have always stood united against any foreign aggression. The
Americans would think several times before deciding on mounting attack
against our country. Lest they forget, the example of the Soviet Union
should be before them… Everybody has seen that the United States is
nothing more than a paper tiger. We cannot be browbeaten with threats
of retaliatory attacks… Every time something goes wrong anywhere in
the world, bin Laden is blamed for it. They have turned him into a villain
for the American people. Now they are looking for a scapegoat and bin
Laden is a convenient target."

"We regret the incident of terrorism
in America but Osama's involvement in it was not possible since he was
practically not capable of undertaking such a sophisticated operation…
The US has neither made any contact with us nor has asked for extradition
of Osama. If the US is interested in extradition of Osama bin Laden,
it must provide us concrete proof of his involvement in the incidents
of terrorism."

-- Mullah Mohammad Omar, Supreme Leader, Taliban Regime
of Afghanistan, statement read out in Islamabad by Ambassador of the
Taliban Regime in Pakistan, September 14, 2001

"The incidents which took place
in America are testimony to Osama bin Laden's innocence because where
are Osama's pilots and where were they trained," Omar said in the statement,
which was read out on the Radio Sharia… Blaming Osama without any rhyme
or reason is a separate thing and a move by the [Western] intelligence
agencies to escape their own failure."

"What happened in the United
States was not a job of ordinary people. It could have been the work
of governments. Osama bin Laden cannot do this work, neither us... We
are not supporting terrorism. Osama does not have the capability. We
condemn this…. This could have been the act of either internal enemies
of the United States or its major rivals. Osama cannot do this work."